Ruler gauge



atenteci Aug. 142., A195 UNITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE i RULER GAUGE Leo J. Klimek, Long Prairie, Minn. Application September 9, 1949, Serial No. 114,841

(Cl. 3B- 173) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an attachment for rulers and has for its primary object to enable an ordinary folding pocket rule or foot rule to be converted for use in connection with many varied types'of layout or design work.

Another important object of this invention is to enable a ruler to be used for drawing circles, angles and designs normally requiring Vthe use of angles or the like.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive ruler attachment that will not interfere with the folding of a folding pocket rule and that is adapted for operative attachment to any type of rule so that the rule can be utilized as a gauge, bevel or the like. These and ancillary objects are attained by this invention, the preferred embodiment of which is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of a ruler, to which is attachedthe preferred embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken online 3--3 of Figure 1;

. Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view taken'on line 4--4 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a top plan view showing the device attached to a ruler and utilized as a compass.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, a conventional folding ruler I0 is illustrated and the attachment I2, which is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the instant invention, is detachably and slidably mounted thereon, the attachment functioning to convert the ruler for use as a gauge, angle, square or compass. The attachment includes a rectangular housing I4, which is preferably formed from a single piece of light but sturdy material. The housing is formed with opposing open ends and has an elongated top section I6 and a short bottom section I8, the latter sections being connected by vertical side walls 20 and 22. The housing is slidably disposed on the ruler and means is provided for locking the housing at desired points along the ruler.

For this purpose, the top wall or section I6 of the housing is formed with an elongated opening defined by downwardly directed parallel flanges 25 on which a channel-shaped member 24 is slidably disposed, the member being provided with a threaded vertical opening 26. A set screw 28 is threaded through the opening and has an Y A 2 enlarged foot or plate 30 integrally formed on ,its inner or lower end, the foot being adapted to clamp on the upper face of the ruler and `lock the housing thereon. To securely lock any type of ruler in the housing, regardless 0I" the-width of theruler and to retain the housing in its proper axially'aligned relationship with the ruler, spring leaves 32 and 34 are riveted asatZG to the side wall 20 and bear against one side edge of the ruler holding the opposing side edge in abutting engagement of the side wall 22.

A base plate or supporting member 38 is provided for pivotally supporting the housing. The

plate 38 is formed with a vertical section 40 and a horizontal section 42 disposed at right angles to thesection 40. 'I'he plate is disposed transversely at one end of the housing and the horizontal section 42 is positioned on the top section I6 of the housing so that the beveled ends 44 v`of the side walls 20 and 22 extend to the elongated slot 46 in the upper end of the section 40. A protractor 48` is secured to the top section I6 and is interposed between the section 4 2 of the supporting plate and the top section. A screw 5D extends vertically through the sections and a knurled locking nut 52 is disposed onrthe screw and seats on the section 42 to lock the housing in various angular positions onthesupporting plat/e. It is to be noted that a Winter -54-is formed on the center of the free edge of the section 42 and cooperatively overlies the protracf tor carried by the housing. f i

Means is provided and is operatively carried by the housing for converting the ruler into a compass or similar instrument. Thus, a casing 5t is offset from and secured to the side wall 22, the casing being formed with apertured top and bottom walls 58 and 60. A pin 62 is vertically disposed through the apertured walls and is formed with an axially enlarged shank section 64, which terminates in a ball 66 disposed above the top Wall 58. A spring B8 is concentrically disposed about the pin between the shank section 64 and the bottom wall 60 to hold the pin within the casing. Downward pressure on the ball 66 pushes the pin downwardly so that the housing and ruler secured therein move about the axis of the pin, as in Figure 5.

Thus, it can be seen that a compact and simple attachment has been provided which will materially increase the uses and value of a ruler.

Having thus described the invention, what isv claimed as new is: Y

1. An attachment for a ruler comprising an elongated housing having an open end and in.

cluding top and bottom walls connected by side walls for slidably receiving a ruler therein, a supporting member for said housing pivotally secured to the top wall adjacent one end thereof, means for securing the housing and the supporting member in adjusted angular relation, means .adjustable longitudinally of the housing for securing a ruler in adjusted position in the housing, said last means including a plate disposed within and movable longitudinally of the housing and having engagement with the underside of the top wall, a clamping screw threaded through the plate, said top wall having a longitudinally extending opening therethrough, said screw being slidable in said opening.

2. An attachment for a ruler comprising an elongated housing having an open end and including top and bottom walls connected by side walls for slidably receiving a ruler therein, a l

supporting member for said housing pivotally secured to the top Wall adjacent one end thereof, meansvfor'securingthe housing and the supporting member in adjusted angular relation, means adjustable longitudinally of the housing for securing a ruler in adjusted .position in the housing, said last means including the top wall having a longitudinally extending opening therethrough, said top wall having integral depending iianges extending along the side edges of the opening, a plate-movably disposed in the housing having upwardly extending anges along the opposite side edges thereof slidably and guidingly engaging the iirst mentioned flanges therebetween, a-clamping screw threadingly extending through the plate, said screw slidably projecting through the opening and having its lower end adapted to bear against a ruler for urging the latter into frictional engagement with the bottom wall.

3. An attachment for a ruler comprising an elongated housing having an open end and including top and bottom walls connected by side walls for slidably receiving a ruler therein, a

supporting member for said housing pivotally secured to the-top wall adjacent one end thereof, means for securing the housing and the supporting member in adjusted angular relation, means adjustable longitudinally of the housing for securing a ruler in adjusted position in the housing, a leaf spring disposed in the housing and secured to one side wall thereof only and adapted to engage a ruler in the housing and yieldingly urge the same into engagement with the other 4 side wall, said last means including a plate movable longtudinally of the housing, a clamping screw threaded through the plate, said top wall having a longitudinally extending opening therethrough, said screw being slidable in said opening.

4. An attachment for a ruler comprising an elongated housing having an open end and including top and bottom walls connected by side walls for slidably receiving a ruler therein, a supporting member for said housing pivotally secured to the top wall adjacent one end thereof', means for securing the housing and the supporting member in adjusted angular relation, means adjustable longitudinally of the housing for securing a ruler in adjusted position in the housing, said last means including a leai7 spring disposed in the housing and secured to one side wall thereof only and adapted to engage a ruler in the housing and yieldingly urge the same into engagement with the other side Wall, the top wall having a longitudinally extending opening therethrough, said top wall having integral depending flanges extending along the side edges of the opening, a plate movably disposed in the-housing having upwardly extending flanges along: the opposite side edges thereof slidably and guidingly engaging the first mentioned iianges therebetween, a clamping screw threadingly extending through the plate, said screw slidably projecting through the opening and having its lower end adapted to bear against a ruler for urging the latter into frictional engagement with the -bottom wall, and a vertically reciprocable pin mounted externally upon one side wall of the housing together with spring means supporting the pin at the upper extremity of its movement.

LEO J. KLIMEK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,109,444 McLaughlin Sept. 1, 1914 1,129,707 Miller Feb. 23, 1915 1,310,685 Smith July 22, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 84,120 France May 25, 1921 

